Environmentalists have called for the urgent restoration of the DPS and TS Chanakya wetlands in Navi Mumbai, as hundreds of bird enthusiasts converged on the narrow stretch at NRI Lake to witness flamingo gatherings. This surge in visitors has increased pressure on a single habitat, turning NRI Lake into an unofficial eco-tourism hotspot. The group urged the state government to revive all three wetlands to benefit migratory birds and nature enthusiasts.
Wetlands Turning Toxic
Environmentalists reported that the DPS and TS Chanakya wetlands have become toxic due to stagnant water and the accumulation of blue-green algae. A portion of NRI Lake has become the main destination for flamingos flying out of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary during high tide. The sanctuary, a Ramsar site of global importance, hosts migratory flamingos during the winter-summer months before they return to Kutch ahead of the monsoon.
Increase in Lesser Flamingos
This season has witnessed a remarkable increase in lesser flamingos across the Mumbai region, while greater flamingos prefer freshwater wetlands such as Bhigwan. Bird trail guide Nitin Nagre from Bhigwan noted, “Yes, we are seeing over a thousand greater flamingos here.” Lesser flamingos thrive mainly on microscopic food sources found in shallow alkaline and saline waters, feeding on blue-green algae, diatoms, plankton, tiny crustaceans, and other microorganisms filtered through their specialized beaks. Carotenoid pigments present in the algae contribute to their striking pink coloration.
Experts warned that dependence on a limited section of the NRI wetland could increase pressure on microscopic food sources. Restoration of the DPS and TS Chanakya wetlands is essential to provide alternative feeding grounds, according to Jyoti Nadkarni, member of the Raigad district wetland documentation committee. She emphasized that flamingos are key indicators of healthy wetlands and help maintain ecological balance.
Bird Watchers Flock to NRI Lake
“Bird lovers now seem to have mastered the art of tracking flamingo flights by closely monitoring high-tide charts and arriving equipped with cameras and telephoto lenses,” said Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society, which fought a legal battle to protect the lake. Photography enthusiasts gathered in large numbers to capture the flamingos in their natural habitat, with cameras lined up along the lakeside, according to nature enthusiast Divya Banda Pogaru.
Bird lovers traveled from different cities over the weekend to witness and photograph the rare spectacle, said NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar, who has been advocating for conservation of all three lakes for years.
